The impact
The proposal—presented by Judges Vince Santini and Kristin Bays—creates space for the incoming 523rd District Court while freeing up two additional courtrooms in the existing courthouse.
The project will be funded through unspent money from the courts’ fiscal year 2025 operations budget, roughly $500,000, and, if needed, supplemented by the court facilities fund—both earmarked for judicial purposes, Bays said. County officials emphasized that the plan will have no impact on the county’s general budget.
Bays described the project as a “tourniquet solution” to address urgent space needs until a long-term plan for a new courthouse can be realized.
“We can stop the bleeding. We can't actually cure the wound,” Bays said. “There's only one thing that can, and in case you've forgotten, that would be [a] new courthouse.”
Commissioners in August approved the creation of the new 523rd District Court after judges warned earlier this year that existing facilities were running out of space to handle growing caseloads.
“The legislature has made it clear—they’ve already added one court, and three more could be coming in the next session,” she said. “The clock is ticking.”
The renovation will convert portions of the James H. Keeshan Building’s second floor into courtroom space while relocating guardianship and internal affairs offices to the first floor. The board of judges unanimously approved the plan Oct. 10, following input from 11 county departments and the sheriff’s office, Bays said.
Commissioners directed staff to return within weeks with final bids and cost estimates. The facilities management department will work with contractors and the purchasing department to ensure compliance with county procurement rules.
Santini said the reallocation will also provide an overflow courtroom for criminal cases, helping ease dockets and reduce jail backlogs.
